Sheet-drier.



I PATENTBD MAY19,1903. A. K. TAYLOR.

SHEET DRIRE.

ABPLIOATION FILED DB0. 17. 1902.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1 )I0 MODEL.

A. lK. TAYLOR.

SHEET DRIER.

, APPLICATION FILED DEO.17, 1902.

PATENTED MAY 19, 1903.

'e SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

L [NI/ENTOR /VESSES.-

PATENTED MAY 19, 1993.

A. K. TAYLOR. SHEET DRIRE. APPLICATION FILED DBO. 17, 1902.

e sums-SHEET a.

l/I//T/VESSES PATBNTBD MAY 19,1903.

"Nm 728,329. f

A. K. TAYLOR. swam: DRIRE. APPLICATION FILED DEQ. 17, 1902.

11o MODEL.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

The Ncrmls FEYERS co. PHoTo-LIvTHa. WASHINGTON. DLC? No. 728,329, (.PATENTED MAY 19. 1903. A. K. TAYLOR. SHEET DRIER.;

APPLIOATIOI FILED DEO. 17, 1902.

No MODEL.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

'ma Nonms P'E'rzRs do.. Priomu'wo.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

l No. 728,329. PATBNTED MAY 19, 1903;

V1A. K. .TAYLGRl SHEET DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 17, 1902.

no uonm.. v e SHEETS-SHEET e.

v 70' .I 7 //fs Ly l 66 .72

y BYMi/m In: Nonms PErsRs 00:, PNnTo-LITHm WASHINGTON. D. c:

lIO

No. 728,329. y

" UNITED STATES Patented May 19, 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.

ARTHUR K. TAYLOR, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SHEET-Dalen.

4 SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,329, dated May.191,903.-

Application filed December 17,1902. Serial No. 135,822. (No model.)-

To all whom t may concern.- y

Be it known that I, ARTHUE'K. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Driers, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in machines for drying sheets of paper as they are delivered from a printing or similar` machine, and it is vespecially adapted to receive thesheets as they are delivered from a printing-press to allow the ink time to dry before the sheets are piled up.

It is a well-known fact'that rapid printing is frequently of little value in certain lines of work, owing to the fact that because of the rapidity with4 which the sheets are delivered onto the pile the ink does not have time to dry, and consequently offsets onto the adjacent sheetand also smears. My invention is designed to overcome this difficulty by providing an apparatus which is adapted toloe placed in position adjacent to-the delivery end of a press and receive the sheets from the delivery mechanism of the press and hold them separated from each other until they have had time to dry and after they are thoroughly dried placing them on a pile from which they can be readily removed by the press attendant.` This I accomplish by delivering each sheet on 4a separate receiving surface or shelf, the receiving surfaces or shelves being'so. operated that they will successively come into position to receive the sheet as it is delivered'from the press and carry it to the point where it is finally delivered, the sheets during this time being kep entirely separate from each other.

The object of my invention is to provide in a drier a pile of pliable shelves which are operated by appropriate mechanism and which are strippedv from under the sheet to deliver thesheet therefrom, and after they are withdrawn from Vunder the sheet they are carried to a position where they receive aA freshly-printed sheet. During the time the ,i shelves are carrying the sheets they are "',supe'i-impos'ed, forming a pile, the sheet-cai'- rying surfaces, ofthe shelves being, spaced apart to prevent contact ,with the freshlyprinted surfaces yandthe pile is' moved down 'inside View of one of the side frames.

by degrees, the lowermost shelf of the pile being the one from which the sheet is delivered by withdrawing the shelf from under the sheet, the shelf as soon as it is withdrawn being carried to the top of the pile to receive a fresh sheet.' By this means it will be seen that a suflcient length of time is given to the sheets to thoroughly dry before they are piled in Contact with one another.

'To carry out the operations above enumerated, certain details of construction and peculiar arrangement of parts have `been provided, and to this end my invention also contemplates certain improvements in the mechanism for-carryin g out these operations, all of which will be hereinafter described and ,then particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to thedrawings, wherein like parts are designated by the same Vreferencenumerals wherever they occur, Figure l is a side elevation of my improveddrying apparatus, also showing part of the connections 'between the drying apparatusa'nd a printingpress by which the sheets are delivered from the press to the drier. of the drier partly broken away, to more clearly show the' construction. Fig. 3 is an Fig. 4 is adetail View of the escapement mechanism by which one end of the pile of shelves is Fig. 2 is an end View normally supported and by which one end of the lower-most shelf is separated from the pile, the parts being shown in their normal position. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the escapement shown in theact of separating the bottommost shelf from the pile. Fig. 6 is a detailview of the escapement which supports the other end of the pile of shelves and separates that end of the bottommost shelf from the pile. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on` line w ro of Fig. G. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of the operating mechanism for the delivery-tables onto which the sheets are delivered by the pressand from whichv they are passed into the drier.v Fig. 9`is a detail top plan view of the delivery-tables.. Fig. 10

is a detail side elevation of one of a pair of` switches, showing the switch in its normal andheld in the vertical channel. Fig. 11 is asimilar view illustrating the operation of f loo l positipnfbyV whichfthe roll .ofvtheftopmostf v shelf when placedin position is admitted' to the switch admitting a :roll to the vertical channel. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view on line y y of Fig. 10. Fig. 13 a detail View of one of the shelves. Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the carriage and spring-roller by which the shelves are held taut while they are removed from the bottom ofthe pile. Fig. 15 is a detail view showing the end of the carriage shown in Fig. 14. v

Referring particularly to 1 and 2, 1 represents a pair of frames, each consisting ot'rthe upper bars 2, the lower bars 3, the front bars 4, and the rear bars 5. Each of these frames is in substantially the form of a rectangle, and the pair of frames are suitably braced together by the cross-braces 6. Preferably these frames are mounted on wheels or rollers 7, whereby it is easy to place the drier in position to receive the sheets as they are delivered from the printing or other machine. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the frames which are duplicates of each other have a continuons slot or channel cut through the four sides thereof, this channel being formed of the portion 8 in the bar 4, the portion 9 in the bar 5, the portion 10 in the bar 3, and the portion 11 in the bar 2. The four portions of this channel are connected together by suitably-curved portions and at the upper rear corner by the inclined portion which is formed by the inclined sides 12 and 13. Yokes 14 surround the channel or slot at intervals and are preferably cast integral with the frame. These are necessary in order to support the inner portions of the frame. In each of the front bars 4 I provide an endless groove or channel 15, which is composed of two channels or grooves 16 17, which meet at their upper end and slightly diverge toward their lower end, the lower ends of these channels being connected by the channel or groove 18, which is wider than the channels 16 17 and is curved, as best shown in Fig. 3. 19 is a channel cut in tho lower side ot each of the frames and inclined from the front to the rear of the frame, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. These channels are each provided on their upper side with a rack 20, and in the channels 19 is mounted a carriage carrying a roller which holds the flexible portion of a sheet taut while it is being withdrawn from the bottom of the pile, to be hereinafter described.

21 is a switch pivoted on the. stud 22, mounted on the outside of each of the frames 1 adjacent to the portions of the slot or groove formed by the beveled sides 12 and 13. Each switch is so mounted that when it is in its normal position (shown in Fig. 10) the free end of the switch will be in contact with the beveled portion 12 ot' the slot, the beveled portion l2 projecting out from the face of the frame sufliciently far to fprm a stop for this purpose. Vhen the switch is in its normal position, its upper edge is in alinement with the lower wall of the portion 11 of the slot.

23 represents springs, one for each switch, mounted on the studs 22 and having one end connected to the switch and the other end connected to the frame adapted to normally hold the switch with its free end in contact with the beveled face 12. When the switch is depressed, as shown in Fig. 11, the upper edge of the switch will be in alinement with the lower incline 13 of the slot.

24 represents a shelf comprising end rods 25 and 26 and the pliable connecting portion 27, these parts being so connected and positioned that when the shelf is stretched the portion 27 extends directly from the center of its supporting-rods in the manner best shown in Fig. 13. The portion 27 is somewhat narrower than the rods 25 and 26, so that the latter project out at each end and may travel in the slots of the side frames in the manner to be hereinafter described. A number of these shelves are used in the operation of the machine, as is clearly shown in the drawings, the shelves being held in the frame in a pile, with the ends of the rods 25 projecting into the slot formed by the portions S, 9, 10, and 1l and the ends of the rods 2G projecting into the slot formed by the portions 15,whereby, as will be seen, the rods 25 may travel in a substantially rectangular path around the frame, while the rods 26 will travel only up and down one side of this rectangle and on the interior of the rectangle. As best shown in Fig. 1, I provide such a number of shelves that the rods 26 will fill the portion 17 when one of the rods is out of this portion, since in the operation of my device one of the rods is always out of the portion 17, because a rod is taken from the bottom of the pile as soon as another rod has been placed in position at the top of the pile, it being understood that the rods carrying a shelf are removed from the bottom of the pile to deliver the dried sheets and are then carried to the top of the pile and placed in position to receive a fresh sheet. At the lower rear end of each of the portions 9 of the slots l provide a pair of escapement devices 29, (shown in Figs. 4 and 5,) which are adapted to separate the rod 26 of the shelf, which is at the bottom of the pile, from the remaining rods in the pile to allow the shelf to deliver the dried sheet and then be removed to its position at the top of the pile, where it may receive a fresh sheet, the escapement devices operating to prevent more than a single rod at a time being transferred from the slot 8 to the slot 10 and holding the remaining rods in position in the slot 8. It is to be understood that there is an escapement on each of the side frames to act on both ends of a rod; but as the pair of escapements are duplicates ofv each other but one will be described.`

Mounted on the stud 28, which projects out from the guard 14 on each of the side frames, is the escapement device 29, which is in the IOG IIO

form ofapair ofvlegs 30 31,'the leg'30 being provided at its end with a toe 3 2,`which when the escapement is in itsnormal position, as shown in Fig. 4, is adapted to support the pile of rods in the slot 9. The leg 3l. is widened at about its middle portionandforms a shoul-V der 33, and at the inner end ofthis shoulder is a toe 34. The end of the toe 34 is` located in a plane which is a distance above the plane of the end .of the toe 32 equal to the diameter of a rod, so that `when the escapement is swung to theposition shown inFig. 5 the toe 34 will enter just above the bottom rod in the slot. The leg 311s providedbelow the toe 34 with a camming-face 35, which is adapted,` should a rod stick in the slot, to force the rod down around the curve into the portion lOofl theslot. Y

36 is a spring, one end of whichis connected to -thelegSI-and the other end secured tothe frame and adapted to hold the escapement in the-position shown in Fig. 4. Y

Mounted on the side frames adjacent to the slots 17 are another. pair of escapements, A

(shown in Figs- 6 and 7,) which operate tosupport the pile 0f rods 25 in the slots l7-and at a 4proper time areoperated to separate thelowcrmost rod. from 'the pile and allow it tov pass into the portionl8 of the slots. .As these escapements are duplicates of each other and. operatetogether, one onone end of a rod and the other on the other,-.I will describe but one,1and.it willbe understood that the description also applies to the other..

37 is a plate which is preferably formedintegral with the frame and is adapted to support the escapement,which is located in proximity to thelower end of: the slot 17, and 38 is a plate secured to the plate 37 by the bolts 39 andsnitably spaced therefrom by means of spacing-collars 125. ont'he bolts; r

40 is a lever, one end of which is pivoted on thestud 4l, projecting from the plates 37. This leveris provided at .its -lower end with the notch. 42, which is adaptedto be engaged; by a suitable part to behereinalter described. v 1 43and 44 are apairofdogs, which are mounted between. theplates 37 and38 and are guided by projecting shoulders 415 and 46, Y which project into channels 47 and 48, cutv in the inner face ofthe plate 38.` l

49 isa lever pivotedon the stud 50, projecting out from the plate 38, the upper end ofthis lever having anelongated hole 51,: through which passes astud 52, carried byw the lever 40. The lever 49is provided at'its other end with` an elongated hole 53, finto which projectsa stud 54, carried bythe dogg 44, the .pin projectingthrough a suitable opening 55, cut in-theplate38. 56 is a plate preferably formed integral with the dog 43 and is provided-Wuhan elony.

gated holein its upper end similar to thehole 5l, into which also projectsthestud 52.` The forwardends of-the dogs` 43.44 arebeveled at 57, andthedistance between thetopof the i do'g'44 andthe top ofthe dog 43 is such that mounted o'n stub-shafts, .while the sprocketsy 6l are mounted on the shaft 92, which is mounted in bearings in the sideframes. 58 58 aretwo chains, one of which runs over each ofthe sets of sprockets. Preferably and as shown the stub-shaf ts for the sprocketwheels 59 are eachV mounted on a `plate6v3, and this plate may be adjusted on the frame by means A of the elongated slots 64 and the boltsv65, which pass through thev plate and the` slots and hold the plateinposition. Y By this means any slack inthev chains-may be takenv up:

Each of the chains is provided :witha pairof inwardly-projected fingers 6 6,-.whicl 1 preferablyand asshown. are positioned onfeach chain at diametricallyopposite points of the chain, asbest shown invFig. l.. YEachof'thel chains also carries two diam etrically .opposite projecting pins 67 which are so'located on the chains with .respect-to the, fingers 66 that they will operate the escapement device-.29 by camming against the outside edge 'thereof' andV swing the escapementf-romthe position shown in Fig. 4 t`o the position `shown infFig. 5 and rel lease a rod, so that it will drop infront off the finger 66 which'is i-n proximity to the pin.. 68

ICO

represents `guide-rollers for the chain c'arried by the frame to prevent the chain being forced away from its path when one of the pins'67 operates the escapement.: 69'is a roller pro- 'l vided near each end withthe flanges 70Aand outside of these flanges with-thefgears 71172,

th'e gears 7l72being-secured to the rollersl -73 is a pivot carriedonthe'end ofthe roller which carries the gear72, andthis pivot 'I IO is journaledin a plate 74, which'is provided with the rollers 75. Intheend of the roller carrying the. gear 7l I provide an ordinary` spring curtain-rollerV construction consisting of the rod 76, which isy placed in a'centrallylocated hole in the end ofthe lroller 69, and to the inner end of this rod is secured one end of a sp.ring,77,thelothcr end' of the spring being secured to apart-78, which is-freeto rotate in the end. of the roller.- The part 78 1 has a square projecting end `79,iwhich tits into a slot 80, in a plate 81, which carries at its lower ends the rolls 82.

for the roller.

The plates 74-and 8l,

with theirrollers 75 and .82,.form a carriage By vthis'construction it will be seenthat when .the roll 69isirotated inrone direction bythe gears 7l 72'tl1e springf7-7 'will be put under tension. `.The roller ismounted ff' ingthe inclinedfchau nell9, heretofore referred racks 20 on the upper-:sldeof `-thisc'hann'elj and theV wheels 75"-and82@resting` uponrtheA -lwer side of this channel.y The 'springf78fis-1 so placed on .thesrodf76 that. whenthe roller is drawn toward the front endof mymachine, i

in the manner to be hereinafter described, the spring willbe placed under tension, and therefore when the roller is released it will return to a position at the back end of the slot. `The slight inclineM given this slot will aid the roller in returning to its normal position.

Supported in suitable ways 83 are two tables 84 85, upon which the sheets are delivered after they have passed through the drier. Two tables are shown, so that when one is withdrawn for the purpose of taking the sheets therefrom the other will be in position to receive the sheets.

86 is the drive-shaft for the drier, and this shaft is driven in any suitable way, as by means of the belt 87, driven by a pulley 88, which is actuated from any suitable part of the printing or other mechanism, the belt passing around the pulley 89 on the shaft 86. Mounted on the shaft 86 is a gear 90, which is adapted to engage with the gear 91, mounted on the shaft 92, this shaft being the one which carries the sprockets 61, whereby the chains 58 are continuously driven. The gears 90 91 are so proportioned that the chains will be driven at a proper speed in relation to the machine with which the drier coperates, and in the machine shown in the drawings, in which two fingers 66 are used on the chains, the chain should make one-half a revolution for each sheet delivered to the drier. Also mounted on the shaft 86 is a cam 93.

94 is a lever mounted on the pivot 95 and carrying at one end a cam-roller 96, adapted to bear upon the cam 93, whereby the lever will receive motion therefrom. The lever 94 is in the form of a bell-crank and has an arm 97 extending upwardly from the pivot 95. Mounted in suitable bearings in the arm 97 is a shaft 98, carrying on its inner end a wedge-shape friction gear-wheel 99 and on its outer end a grooved pulley 100.

101 is a grooved pulley loosely mounted on the pivot 95, and 102 is agrooved pulley fast on the shaft 92, which carries the gear 91.

103 is a belt which passes over the grooved pulley and is crossed and then over` the guide-pulley 101 and down around the pulley 102,whereby the shaft 98, carrying the wed geshaped gear 99, is continuously driven.

104is a shaft mounted in bearings in the side frames l, and 105 represents a pair of arms through which the shaft loosely passes, so as to support the inner ends of these arms, the other ends being attached to the frame of the printing or other machine in any suitable manner. (Not shown.) Loosely mounted on the shaft 104 between the arms 105 and the shaft-bearings are the arms 106, their free ends being connected together by means of the shaft 107. Fast on the shaft 104 between the arms 105 are the pulleys 108 and 109, and loose on the shaft 107 are the pulleys 110, these pulleys being in line with the pulleys 109 on the shaft 104.

111 represents belts passing over the pulleys ,108 and over the pulleys (not shown) carried in the other ends of the arms 105, and on these belts or tapes the sheets are delivered by the press.

112 represents belts or tapes passing around the pulleys 109 and 110.

The tapes 111 constitute a receiving-table to receive the sheets from the press, and the tapes 112 constitute an intermediate table located between the receiving-table and the drier. When the intermediate table is in its lowest position, as shown in Fig. 8, the pulleys are just above the plane ot' the top shelf in the drier.

113 is an arm projecting upwardly from one of the arms 106 ofthe intermediate table, and the arm 113 carries at its free end a pin 114, projecting into a slot 115, cut in the end 97 of the lever 94, whereby as the lever 94 is rocked by the cam 93 the outer end of the intermediate table will be raised and lowered.

116 is a grooved friction-gear mounted on the shaft 104 and which is adapted to be driven by the wedge-shaped friction-gear 99 when the lever 94 is in the position shown in Fig. 6, thereby'driving the sets of tapes 111 112 to feed a sheet onto a shelf of the.drier.

It being remembered that there are two chains 58, two switches 21, two escapement devices 29, and two escapement devices operated by the lever 40, one on each of the side frames and operating on the opposite ends of the rods of the shelves, the operation of each chain, each switch, and each of the two escapement devices being identical with the other one, I will now describe the general operation of my drier. Power being applied to the shaft 86 from any suitable source, as the pulley 88, the chain on each frame will be driven continuously and the chains will move in unison, and at a proper time the projection 67 will strike the side 40 of each of the escapement devices 29 and move each of these devices so that the toe 32 of the leg 30 will move from under the lowermost rod 25, while the toe 34 of the leg 31 will move over the lowermost rod and hold the remaining rods 25 in position in the slot 9. The face 35 will then act to force the rod down the slot 9 and into the slot 10. At this time the roller 69 will be at the rear end of the slot 19, so that as the rod 25 of the shelf is forced down into the slot 10 the flexible portion 27 of the shelf will pass around the roller 69, which at this time is at the rear end of the slot. rllhe fingers 66 on the chains will now engage each end of the rod 25 and carry the rod toward the front of the machine. Since the pliable portion 27 is looped around the roller 69, this will cause the roller 69 to travel along the channel 19 and through the gears 71 72, engaging the rack 20, and will put the spring in this rollerunder tension, and this tension will hold the flexible portion 27 taut. In this way the shelf will be peeled out from under the sheet which is carried thereon and the sheet will be dropped onto the receiving-table 84 or 85, depending uponwhich is in position.

IOO

IIO

Y Now as the rod iscarried out of theslot part' of the shelf until when-the roller`25 is nearlyat the top of -theslet 8 the carriage of the roller 69 will come in'contact withthe notched e'nd`42of the' levers 40. rThis will swing the lever 40 and operate the dogs 43144 in theV manner described'and will allow the bottomrod 26 of the pile of rods in the slot 17 *tol drop down into the-enlarged portion 18 of the slot. The ingers66 continue to carry the rod 25 past theend of the vslot-8 and into the slot 11, and as the rod-25 is carried-along the slot 11 the rod 26 ontheother end of'the flexible shelf is drawn u p the slot 16, as shown in Fig. 1, until when the rod' 25 has reached theswitches 21 and is in position over the slot 9 the rod 26 will be at the upper end of the slot 15. Now 'as the lingers continue to move with the chain they will draw the pliable shelftaut, and upona further movement of the fingers, because of-*th'e inclined position which the shelf has at this time,(this` position being best shown in Fig. 1,) the rod 25 will, under=the influence of the incline'12,'slip down the finger 66 and in doing so will depress the switch 21 -in Athe manner shown in Fig. 11 until the rod has passed the end of the switch and is forced into the'slot 9, when the switch may move back into its normal position andlock the rod inthe channel 9, when the rod will have dropped below the end of the linger. This operation is'repeated at each half-revolution of the chain, and each rshelf is in succession taken from the bottom timed in relation to the operationof the press that a flexible shelf will be stretched just in Consequently as time to'receivea sheet.

` each shelf is placed in position on the top of the pile a sheet' is fed't-hereon, and this sheet is carried by the'shelf which is held taut all the time it is in the V pile until Vthe shelf bevcomes the bottommost shelf of the pile, when in the manner previously described the sheet will be deliveredfonto the receiving-table. By this construction 'the-sheet is held entirely separate from theadjacentsheets-and is given time to thoroughly dry before it is placed on the pile. V

It is-to be of course un-derstood that many other forms of mechanism for feeding the sheet to the drier might be'used without' departing from the spirit of my invention; but the mechanism which I have describedIdeem to'be peculiarly adapted to be used 'in conneetion with my drier. Ialso desire tohave it understood that many changes may be made in the form and mechanical construction of the parts of my-device withoutdepartingfrom thejspirit of;my invention.

It is of course obvious that, ifdesired, more than asingle sheet Amay be placed side by side on a shelf or several sheets might be piled one on top of the other on each shelf, and I desire to have it understood that by theterm sheet used in the speciicationand claims I mean to include a construction in which this is done. i Y

Having thus described my-invention,`what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a drier the combination with a series t of lpliable shelves arranged in a pile, each adapted to receive a sheet to be dried, of means for holding the shelves taut whilein thevpile,` and means for successively removing and sep-y arating the bottom shelf from the pile and' y transferring itto thel top of the pile, in'lposi-l tion to receive a fresh sheet. ,y y I 2.A Inadrier the combination with a'series of `pliable shelves arranged .in agpile, each adapted to receive a sheet to-be dried, of means for holdingthe shelves taut while in'the pile,

`means for deliveringfthedried sheet from the bottom shelf ofthe pile,;and meansfor snc# cessively separating vthe bottom shelf from. thepile, and transferring it'to the top of the pile'in position to receive a fresh sheet.

- 3. In a drier thecombinationlwithaseries of pliable shelves, each shelf being adapted to eceive a Isheet of mechanism for consecutively piling the shelves one on top of the other, means for holding the shelves taut 'while in the pile, and mechanism for delivering the sheets upon the shelves.

\ 4. In a drier the combination ofa series of pliable shelves, each adapted` to receive a sheet, of mechanism for consecutively piling theshelves, one on ltop of the other, and maintaining them in taut condition,mechanism for'.

delivering the sheetfrom the lowermost shelf and mechanism for separating the bottommost shelf from the'pileyand carrying-the separated shelf to the top of the pile of shelves. 5. In a drier the combination witha frame having two continuous-"guides, a pile' of shelves, each shelf comprising end'rods convnectedby a sheet of iiexible material, the rods at one end of the shelves fitting into one of the'continuousguides, and the rods at the opposite ends of the shelves fitting into the lIO other continuous guide, and mechanism for ytaking the lowermost shelf of thevpile and transferring it to the top of the pile.

6. Ina drier the combination with a frame having two continuous guides, one of the guides surrounding the other guide, ofla pile of shelves, each shelf being composed of end rods connected by a sheet of iiexible material the rods at one end of the shelves-tittinginto.:

one of the continuous guides, and therods at the opposite ends of the shelves tting into the other guide, and mechanism for separating a shelf'fromthebottom'of they pile, and

' transferring it' tothe top'y of the pile. v

7. In adrier, the combination witha frame having" two continuous'guides, one ofthe guides surrounding the other guide, a pile of flexible shelves,veach of which is composed of end rods connected by a sheet of flexible material, the rods at one end of the shelves fitting into one of the continuous guides, and the rods at the opposite end of the shelves fitting into the other guide, and mechanism for separating a sb elf from the bottom of the pile without disengaging the rods from the guides, and transferring the shelf to the top of the pile.

8. In a drier the combination with a frame, ofa pile of pliable shelves in the frame, a separating device in the path of a portion of the shelves and means coacting with the separating device to automatically operate the same to separate and remove a single shelf from the pile of shelves. y

9. In a drier the combination with a frame, of a pile of shelves in the frame, a separating device coacting with a partof a shelf to separate the shelves, one at a time, from the pile; means for automatically actuating the separating device and separate a shelf; mechanism for engaging and removing the shelf after it has been separated from the pile, and mechanism for resetting the separating device.

10. In adi-ier the combination with a frame,

of a pile of pliable shelves in the frame, traveling fingers adapted to act on the end of an individual shelf; means for separating the lowermost shelf from the pile and moving it to a position where it will be engaged by the fingers and means for afterward disengaging the end of the shelf from the traveling finsers.

1l. In a drier the combination with a frame having a continuous guide, one portion of which is approximately vertical, a second continuous guide, one portion of which is substantially parallel to the vertical portion of the first-named guide; a pile of shelves, each of which is composed of a flexible portion having a rod at cach end, the rods at one end of the shelves standing in the vertical portion of one of the guides, and the rods at the other ends of the shelves standing in the vertical portion of the other guide; means for separating the bottommost shelf from the pile and mechanism for carrying the separated shelf from the bottom to the top of the pile.

l2. In a drier the combination with a frame provided with guides, of a pile of flexible shelves carried in the guides; means for separating a shelf from the bottom of the pile; means for carryinga separated shelf to the top of the pile and a switch for disengaging the shelf from its carrying means When the shelf is over the top of the pile.

13. In a drier the combination With a pile of flexible shelves, of a guide for said shelves, said guide having an inclined portion, means for carrying a shelf from the bottom to the top of the pile; means for disengaging the carrying means from the shelf When the shelf has been positioned on top of .the pile, said disengaging means consisting of a switch mounted on a pivot and arranged parallel with the guide and adjacent to the inclined portion thereof and means for normally holding the switch in position.

I4. In a drier the combination with a pile of shelves and means for separating the lowermost shelf from the pile said means comprising a pair of toes out of line With each other and means for operating said toes to separate the shelf from the pile.

l5. In a drier the combination With a series of flexible shelves, mechanism for feeding a sheet to the top shelf of the pile, mechanism for delivering a sheet Vfrom the bottom shelf of the pile and mechanism for presenting each shelf after it has delivered a sheet in position to-receivea fresh sheet from the feeding mechanism. i

16. In a drier the combination With a pile of pliable shelves, of means for holding the shelves taut while in the pile, mechanism for transferring separately and successively the bottom shelf of the pile to the top of the pile, and mechanism for feeding a sheet onto the shelf which is at the top of the pile.

17. In a drier the combination with a pile of shelves mechanism for removinga shelf from the bottom of the pile and placing it on top of the pile, a rocking feeding mechanism adapted to feed a sheet onto the top shelf of the pile and mechanism for rocking and operating said feeding mechanism as each shelf is placed in position to receive a sheet on top of the pile.

18. In a drier the combination with a plurality of shelves arranged in a pile, of mechanism for removing the lowermost shelf and positioning it above the pile; a feeding mechanism comprising a table formed of belts, and an intermediate table also formed of belts; means for raising and lowering the intermediate table and simultaneously operating the belts of both tables Whenever a shelf is placed in position to receive a sheet on top of the pile.

19. In a drierthe combination with a series of pliable shelves arranged in a pile, of means for holding the shelves taut While in the pile and means for separating one shelf at a time from the pile and transferring the separated shelf to another portion of the pile.

20. In a drier the combination with a series of pliable shelves arranged in a pile, of means for holding the shelves taut while in the pile, means for feeding sheets to be dried, to the shelves and means for taking the shelves from a pile, delivering the sheets from the shelves and transferring the shelves to the position Where they will receive a fresh sheet.

21. In a drier the combination with a series of flexible shelves arranged in a pile each shelf being adapted to receive a sheet; mechanism for separating one end of each shelf from the pile; mechanism for drawing the separated end of the shelf around the other end of the shelf, and mechanism for holding the flexible portion of the shelf taut While the shelf is being so drawn.

IOO

22. In a drier the combination with a series of exible shelves arranged in a. pile,A eachI shelf being adapted toreceive a sheet;l mechanism for separatingfrom the pile one end ofthe shelf fromwhicha dried sheet is to be delivered; mechanism for drawing the separated end of the shelf around .its other end;V and'mechanism for holding the flexible por-i tion of the separated Yshelf taut while it is being so drawn; and mechanism for thereafter separating the other end of the shelf from the pile.

23. In a drier the combination with'a series of flexible shelves arranged in a pile, means for separating one end of the lowermost shelf of the pile; kmeans for drawing the separated end of the shelf around the other end thereof;

' and `means consisting vof a roller provided with a spring for holding theshelf taut while being so'drawn.; and means for thereafterA separating the other end of the shelf from the pile.

of iieXible shelves arranged in a pile, veach shelf being adapted to receive a sheet; of mechanism for separating the lowermost shelf Afromthe pile, s aid mechanism comprising a pair of toes out of line with each other; and

means for operating said toes to separate thel end of the shelf from the pile, and mechanism for carrying the separated end of the shelf around the other end of the shelf; and mech-4 anism for thereafter separating the other end of the shelf from the pile.

25. In a drier the combination with a series of eXible shelves arrangedin a pile, of means forseparating one end of the lowermost shelf from the pile, audmeans for carrying the separated end of the shelf around the other end of the pile, and means for thereafter separating the said' other end of the shelffrom the pile, said latter means consisting of a pair of dogs; and means for operating said dogs to separate the end of the shelf from the pile.

2G. In a drier the combination with a frame having two continuous guides, one of the guides surrounding the other guide; of a series of shelves each shelf being provided with means at one end ofthe shelf engagingY one of the guides,.and means at the other end of the shelf engaging the other guide; and

mechanism for moving the end of the shelfV 24. In a drier the combination with a series continuous guides and zthe" rods at the oppovsite end ofthe shelves itting into the other vguide and mechanism for movingthe end of the shelves guided in `the substantially rec tangular guide aroundthe end of the shelves guided in the other guide. Y

28. In a drier the combinationwith a framey having two continuous guides oneY of the guides being substantially rectangular and the other guide being Vsubstantially parguide; a series of shelves each shelf being composed of end rods connected by a sheet' of flexible material, the rods at onegend of... the shelves fitting intoone of the continuous u .allel with one ofthe sides of the rectangular ,o

guides and the rods at the opposite Aends of,

vshelves fitting into the other'guide and mechanism for successivelymoving the lends of the shelves guided in the rectangular guide around the ends of the shelves guided in the other guide.

29. In adrier the combinationwith a frame having two continuous guides one of the guides being substantially rectangular and 1 the other guidebeing substantially parallel to one .of the sides of the rectangular guide and surrounded bythe rectangular guide; of of a pile of shelves each shelf being composed of end rods connected bya sheet of flexible material the rodsk atene end of vtheshelves fitting into one of the continuous guides, and v fitting into the other guide and `mechanism for drawing the end of the shelf in thereo-y tangular guide, which is at the bottom of the pile around the endof the shelf in the other guide, and transferring the shelf to thetopr of the pile. i i 30. In a'drier the combination with a frame having two continuous guides one of the guides being substantially rectangular and the otherguide being substantially parallel to one of the sides of the rectangular guide and surrounded by the rectangular guide, ofapile of shelves each shelf being composed of end rods connected by a sheet of flexible matev rial, the rod at one end'of the shelves fitting into one of the continuous guides, and the rods at the oppositeends of the shelves fitting into the other guide, and mechanism for therods at the opposite ends of the shelves IIO drawing the end of the shelf in the rectangular guide which is at the bottom of the pile around the end of the shelf in the other guide, means for holding the shelf taut while it is being so drawn, and means for transferring.,`

the shelf to the top of the pile.

Signed by me at Baltimore, Maryland, this i 11th day of December, 1902. Y y

ARTHUR K. TAYLOR. Witnesses:

HOWARD D. ADAMS, GEO. WM. SNYDER, Jr. 

